Wilderness to Water. Reflections regarding God's faithfulness, character, love, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. An examination of God's grace and power through meditative prose, poetry, original drawings and full-color photographs.

“The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.”—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Catherine Marshall“Evil is real - and powerful. It has to be fought, not explained away, not fled. And God is against evil all the way. So each of us has to decide where WE stand, how we're going to live OUR lives. We can try to persuade ourselves that evil doesn't exist; live for ourselves and wink at evil. We can say that it isn't so bad after all, maybe even try to call it fun by clothing it in silks and velvets. We can compromise with it, keep quiet about it and say it's none of our business. Or we can work on God's side, listen for His orders on strategy against the evil, no matter how horrible it is, and know that He can transform it.”—Catherine Marshall, Christy

Today, there seems to be a popular movement afoot in some religious and philosophical circles… (usually “progressive” ones)… to downgrade the concept of “evil”. Within those circles, “evil” has been stripped ultimately of its former spiritual significance. It has often been re-imagined and rendered essentially meaningless in any real sense of the word.

The concept of the reality of “evil”, along with some distasteful others ( like “Sin”, “Satan” and “Hell”) has been declared a virtual non-entity. Evil is seen more as an illusion by the “scientific” and therapeutic communities, those today who are “in-the-know”. We are being condescendingly preached to that “evil” has no real basis in fact and really ought not be spoken of in polite, politically correct society.

We are told instead that we are all “basically good” and that any perceived…(ahem)…” waywardness” is only and always the result of either poor education and/or some sort of chemical abnormality.

Actual “evil” has been intentionally swept under the rug….and, as if by magic, explained away.

Out of sight…out of mind.

There is, you see, no “battleline between good and evil” as Solzhenitsyn has described (above). There is only poor education, misunderstanding and/or faulty wiring.

Peter Kreeft

"…[E]vil is not a thing but a wrong choice, or the damage done by a wrong choice. Evil is no more a positive thing than blindness is. But it is just as real. It is not a thing, but it is not an illusion.”—Peter Kreeft

Now That Evil’s Been Demoted….

We’re not up to naming “Evil”…,
Not today…It’s SO unfair!
Naming “Evil”’s NOT productive,
It’s a trap son,… it’s a snare!

We’re not up to naming “Evil”,
Doing so is just unwise…
Yes, like “Sin”, it’s been downgraded,
Met it’s match….”Psychologized”.

Naming “Evil” is distasteful…
And we trust Thou Shalt Agree.
Follow us and rise above it…
Here in Post-Modernity!

Naming “Evil”’s a temptation…
Modern Man should rise above.
Grab your bootstraps!…Join the chorus!
All we REALLY need is love!

So, you see, it’s mandatory,
“Evil” must be redefined …
Yes, let’s make it to our liking!
“Evil”’s been too much maligned!

Help us strip it of all meaning,
Render it just “metaphor”!
We protest it’s age-old meaning…
THAT, friend, we can ill-afford!

Naming “Evil”’s UN-appealing…
No, we need a softer term!
“Lack of Insight” feels more like it…
That’s one we can ALL affirm!

Or try “Chemical Imbalance”,
Yes, that fits the template well….
That would lessen consternation,
That could break the “Evil” spell!

Now that “Evil’s” been demoted,
Now that it’s been shown the door,
We, at last, can breathe more freely,
And Utopia restore!

So, please join us on the ramparts!
“Down with Evil’s overkill!”…
Sound the shofar!….Be progressive
Here in Pollyanna-ville!

Lord, this Grace You have extended,
Sometimes, Lord, we just don’t see…
Thank you for this Truth and Mercy…
Evil countered: Calvary.

“The question should be not ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ but ‘Why do good things happen to bad people?’ If the fairy godmother tells Cinderella that she can wear her magic gown until midnight, the question should be not ‘Why not after midnight?’ but ‘Why did I get to wear it at all?’ The question is not why the glass of water is half empty but why it is half full, for all goodness is gift. The best people are the ones who are most reluctant to call themselves good people. Sinners think they are saints, but saints know they are sinners. The best man who ever lived once said, ‘No one is good but God alone.’”—Peter Kreeft